Final Evacuation Flight Brings Nigerians Home from South Africa

The Federal Government has completed its evacuation programme for Nigerians who chose to leave South Africa following growing xenophobic attacks and security concerns. The final group of returnees landed safely at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos aboard an Air Peace aircraft at about 11.28 am. This last journey officially concluded the nationwide Nigeria evacuation effort.

The evacuation exercise was introduced after increasing reports of xenophobic attacks raised fears about the safety of Nigerians living in South Africa. The Nigeria evacuation programme gave affected citizens the opportunity to return home through a series of organised flights. Throughout the operation, Air Peace played a key role by operating several flights between South Africa and Lagos, helping many Nigerians return safely. The successful completion of the Nigeria evacuation marks the end of the government’s planned response to the situation.

Earlier, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) confirmed the arrival of another group of 40 returnees on a chartered aircraft. According to the commission’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the total number of Nigerians brought back at that stage had reached 1,174.

Figures released by NiDCOM showed that four separate Air Peace flights transported 258, 266, 262, and 282 Nigerians respectively. In addition, a ValueJet aircraft returned 66 more citizens to the country. The completion of the Nigeria evacuation highlights the government’s effort to assist citizens who requested to return home during the period of heightened tension.

What more can be done to improve the safety and support of Nigerians living abroad during times of crisis?